When we received the call from Jon last night that Mom and Dad's house was on fire we thought it would just be some small kitchen grease fire.
It wasn't until we rounded the corner and saw three fire trucks, five ambulances, numerous cop cars and the entire neighborhood gathered around the front of the house that we knew things were really serious. When I saw the smoke damage on the whole of the house I couldn't keep the tears in. You run searching frantically for the people you love, hoping they're ok.
But even looking at the front of the house you can't tell how serious things are. You walk around to the back of the house where the fire started and that's when things start to get ugly. The propane tank blew up and caught the whole back porch on fire.
As you walk through the house and see all the damage it's hard to not think of all you lost.
It's also hard to not be grateful for all you didn't. All of the family and pets were safe and really, that's what counts.
You never think it's going to be you or someone you love. And then it is. And it just....is.
We take pictures of things that are sad so that one day you can look back and say, "Wow we made it through that. Maybe with even a few disguised blessings along the way." We're so grateful that everyone was safe. We're so grateful for neighbors and friends that gathered around offering any help that they could. And we're especially grateful for our Father in Heaven that's there to guide us through all the ups and downs of life.
